Councillor Kathryn Brown put forward a notice of motion regarding the Automated Speed Enforcement camera program at meeting of council on Monday.
The motion calls for the province, through the Ministry of Transportation, to work collaboratively with municipalities that operate Automated Speed Enforcement programs and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to develop improvements that contribute to promoting greater consistency and alignment across the program.
If approved, a copy of the motion would be sent to the Premier Doug Ford, relevant ministers, local MPPs, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Policy Centre.
A look at the motion can be found below:
Whereas ensuring the safety of all road users, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, is a common priority for all municipalities in the provincial government;
Whereas reducing vehicle speeds helps create calmer, safer neighbourhoods that encourage people to use active forms of transportation and be active within the communities;
Whereas municipalities across Ontario are increasingly adopting provincially-regulated, automated speed enforcement ASE programs as a proven tool to improve road safety, particularly in school zones and community safety zones;
Whereas in Belleville, automated speed enforcement cameras have reduced the number of speeding vehicles by an average of 15 to 30% across 11 community safety zones using four ASE cameras that are circulated every three to four months throughout those community safety zones. The reduction is measured based on data collected before, during and subsequent to an ASE camera placement;
Whereas Ontario’s police leaders view ASE not as a revenue tool, but as a traffic safety tool, with the purpose of deterrence and prevention helping to change driver behaviours and reduce collisions;
Whereas by complementing traditional police enforcement, ASE frees up police resources to focus on other pressing public safety priorities;
Whereas nearly three quarters of Ontario drivers support the use of ASE and targeted areas like school zones and community safety zones and whereas community municipalities are best placed to develop transportation plans based on local knowledge and community input;
Whereas the varying approaches used across municipalities presents an opportunity to promote consistency and alignment with emergency best practices provincewide;
Therefore be it resolved that the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Transportation, work collaboratively with municipalities that operate Automated Speed Enforcement programs and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to develop improvements that contribute to promoting greater consistency and alignment across the ASE program;
And further, that a copy of this motion be sent to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Transportation, the Member of Provincial Parliament for the Bay of Quinte, the Member of Provincial Parliament Hastings, Lennox and Addington, and to the association of the Municipalities of Ontario Policy Centre.
The motion will be discussed at a future council meeting.
